LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Polaroid will use the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) as a
platform to announce its plans for a series of experiential retail
stores where consumers can quickly and easily liberate their favorite
images from the confines of their digital devices and turn them into
museum-quality art. Polaroid Fotobar stores will be the first of
their kind retail destinations designed to capitalize on the meteoric
rise in people taking pictures. These cool, hip, experiential stores
will make the process of turning peoples’ best pictures into
cherished pieces of art both rewarding and fun.

“There are currently around 1.5 billion pictures taken every single day,
and that number continues to grow in tandem with the popularity and
quality of camera phones,” said Warren Struhl, founder and CEO of
Fotobar, LLC. “Unfortunately, even the very best of those pictures
rarely ever escape the camera phone with which they were taken to be put
on display around our homes and offices. Why? Because turning those
pictures into something tangible, creative and permanent is neither easy
nor fun. Polaroid Fotobar stores are going to change all of that.”

The company plans to open at least ten Polaroid Fotobar locations
in 2013, the first of which will be a 2,000 SF store in Delray Beach,
Florida. That store, which is slated to open in February of 2013 and
will serve as a model for all Polaroid Fotobar locations, has
been in design and development for the past 12 months. Every Polaroid
Fotobar store will be explicitly designed around the consumer
experience, with the goal of helping people release their “trapped”
photos and display their cherished memories in the form of premium
quality art. Future store locations in 2013 include New York, Las Vegas
and Boston among others.

“Polaroid has always been about much more than just taking
pictures,” said Polaroid President and CEO Scott W. Hardy. “Polaroid
is about sharing life’s most precious and memorable moments. We have
been, and continue to be, about self-expression, creativity and fun. Polaroid
Fotobar retail stores represent a perfect modern expression of the
values for which we have stood for 75 years. We are very excited about
the opening of these stores, and the opportunities they will create for
millions of consumers to have classic Polaroid experiences.”

A patent-pending proprietary technology will allow in-store customers to
select their favorite pictures on their camera phones and wirelessly
transmit them to one of the store’s bar-top workstations for quick and
hassle-free ordering within seconds. This platform also allows customers
to locate their favorite photos and instantly upload them from popular
social platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Picasa and several
others. Uploaded photos can be enhanced on the bar-top workstations
using photo-effect technologies such as contrast, red-eye correction,
brightness and filters showing users the outcome as they work.

Once the images are uploaded, customers will be able to choose from a
wide variety of materials, substrates and framing options for their
individual works of art – all of which are handcrafted and shipped
worldwide to the consumer in just a few days. Images can be framed,
matted, and/or printed directly onto a variety of unique substrates
including canvas, metal, acrylic, wood and bamboo. The ability to see,
touch and feel examples of artworks produced using all of these unique
materials is a critical aspect of the customer experience. As such, each Polaroid
Fotobar store will be a gallery of its own, with creative,
museum-quality pieces on display all around.

The stores will also be staffed by experienced “Phototenders”, each of
whom will be a passionate photo enthusiast trained to help guide
customers through the process from start to finish. The Delray Beach
location will also feature a “The Studio” multi-purpose room that will
host photo classes, private parties and include a studio location for
portrait photos.Polaroid Fotobar store creators envision
the stores becoming a recreational and entertainment destination in
addition to a place to shop.

All products created by consumers at Polaroid Fotobar retail
stores (with the exception of certain poster products made on-site) are
handcrafted and shipped from the company’s state-of-the-art
manufacturing facility within 72 hours. Customers may then return to the
stores to make additional products for their personal use or as gifts,
or use the same service online at www.polaroidfotobar.com

The Polaroid Brand

Across several generations, people regard Polaroid as one of the
most trusted, well-respected and recognizable brands when it comes to
technology. The history of Polaroid began 75 years ago, with its
roots stemming back to Polaroid instant film, cameras and camera
accessories – thus was the introduction of the famous Polaroid
Classic Border Logo which is still recognized today as a true
landmark of photography.

In recent years, Polaroid has expanded its range of products in
consumer electronics and photography, such as instant and digital
cameras, high-definition camcorders, mobile printers, tablets,
flat-screen TVs and more. People can expect to see new Polaroid
products that will deliver the fun, instant gratification and value that
the brand has long stood. For more information, visit http://www.polaroid.com
or http://www.polaroidstore.com.